FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and the classes:

What is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and how is it different from other martial arts?
BJJ is a martial art/sport that was started in 1917, when Mitsuyo Maeda, a Judo master
under Jigoro Kano, moved from Japan to Brazil and met with Gastão Gracie, who was
the father of Carlos Gracie. Carlos Gracie passed on his teachings to his brothers and
from there BJJ was born. The Gracie's are credited with developing their own style of
Jiu-Jitsu, which uses leverages and techniques that favor the smaller and weaker fighter
and gives them the upper hand over their attackers.

BJJ, although a self-defense martial art, focuses more of its applications on the ground,
where law enforcement statistics have shown over 90% of fights end up. Techniques are
based around joint manipulations, chokes, and positional controls. BJJ is different from
most martial arts, because it can be practiced with a resisting opponent at 100%
effectiveness. Other martial arts focus on katas or impractical situations where an
attacker only resists minimally.

Because of BJJs effectiveness, many martial art schools are making the move to
develop some form of ground fighting in their curriculum. BJJ has been made famous
with events such as the UFC, PrideFC, and other cage fighting events. However, BJJ is
also a sport with events all over the world such as the Pan Americans and the World
Jiu-Jitsu Championships.

What will I need to participate in a BJJ class?
Classes are taught in one of two ways; in a "Gi" or otherwise known as a "Kimono" or
No-Gi, which can be practiced in grappling shorts and a t-shirt or lycra top. Mouthpieces
and cups are recommended for all students and females may wish to wear a protective
breast armour.

Will I get hurt during class?
BJJ is practiced under a supervised and safe environment by the class's coaches and
senior students. However, injuries can and have occurred during practice or "rolling
sessions." Injuries can be limited by learning when to "tap" or submit to a superior
submission attempt. Most injuries are caused when a student refuses to do so or lets
their ego get in the way.

Regardless of what you may hear by others who claim they never get "tapped" or caught
in a bad position, that simply is not true. It happens to world champions every day and
that is part of training. However, learning when to attempt an escape and when to tap
comes with time and experience. Most injuries that occur on a daily basis are skin
scraps, minor bruises and possible cuts. At Tatu BJJ, we train safely and no one is
allowed to train with skin diseases or serious preexisting injuries that the instructor is
made aware of.













How is the ranking structure of BJJ designed?
If you are looking to get a quick black belt, you have chosen the wrong martial art to learn.
BJJ is notorious for taking the longest to obtain a black belt in with many people taking
almost 15 years to do so. However, with dedication and the development of a solid
ground  game, it takes on average anywhere from 7 to 10 years to become a BJJ black
belt. Students over the age of 16 use the belt rank structure of: white, blue, purple, brown,
and black.

Ranks are earned through a number of things such as class participation, skill levels
and development of techniques, and places in competitions. Each school has different
ways to test for belts and different requirements, which can include the student's age
depending on what belt they are testing for (i.e., blue belt= 16 yrs. old and black belt= 19
yrs. old).

Time in grade also varies from school to school. Some schools give blue belts to
deserving students in 6 months of solid training and competition, where other schools
require at least two years of training to be eligible for the test. Belts are not just handed
out at Tatu BJJ, but rather earned through hard work and dedication. Tatu believes most
students would rather be a solid blue belt, rather than someone who wears a blue belt
and can't hang with his peers from other academies. BJJ practitioners will know the
difference!

Children use a different rank structure until they turn 16 years old, which changes
depending upon their age. For a better understanding, view this.

What can I expect to do during a typical class?
Typically, class starts (and ends) with a light range of stretching and then moves into
Ukemi Waza, or falling/rolling techniques. After that is done, techniques and drills are
performed by the instructor and then practiced by the students. Class then moves into
conditioning drills or right into sparring, which usually incorporates the majority of the
class's time. The only way to truly learn BJJ is to practice it. On specific nights Atemi
Waza, or striking, is also incorporated into the training regimen, so that our students are
well-rounded martial artists.